Coin-holders



1965 R. BURDICK 3,199,666

COIN-HOLDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 RICHARD BURDICK 6 8 J ATTORNEY n s 3 Q H6. 4 INVENTOR.

Aug. 10, 1965 R. BURDICK 3,199,656

COIN-HOLDERS Filed Aug. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8

INVENTOR.

RICHARD BURDICK 22 ATTORNEY United States latent U 3,199,666 CGlN-HQLDERS Richard Bur-dick, Dallas, Tern; Republic National Bank of Dallas, administrator of said Richard Burdick, deceased Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,972 3 Claims. (Cl. 206.82)

This invention relates in general to coin holders and, more particularly, to coin-holders adapted to protect, as well as display, valuable coins in a coin-collection.

At the present time, numismatists have considerable difiiculty with the adequate protection and display of coins in .a coin-collection. Many coins are minted from metals which become dull, and tarnished upon exposure to atmosphere. When such coins become part of a coin-collection, they not only become scratched, or otherwise damaged if allowed to rub against each other in bags or boxes, but also become coated with a thin but somewhat unsightly film of oxide or sulfide. As a collectors item, the value of a coin is not only attributable to its rarity and its face-value, but also to its perfection as a specimen. Consequently, most numismatists keep valuable coins in cloth-lined boxes and try to protect them from atmospheric attack. A cloth-lined box, however, has little, if any, display value, and is not a very efiective means of protecting the coins. Even if covered with some sort of transparent top, only one side of the coin can 'be viewed unless it is manually removed and turned over. Moreover, such boxes do not afford an individual mounting for each coin so that it may be separately examined on both sides while still being protected.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder which will protect the coin and also clearly display both sides thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder of the type stated which is readily adaptable for receiving and displaying individual coins and also is capable of protecting the coins from wear or damage due to handling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin-holder which will protect the coin from damage due to chemical attack by oxygen and deleterious fumes in the atmosphere.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin-holder constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the coin-holder;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an'exploded perspective view of the coinholder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the coin-holder similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the manner in which an air-free closure is obtained;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of coinholder also constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the coin-holder shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the coin-holder taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of coin-holder in partially closed position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line ill-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of coin-holder in fully closed position; and

ice

FIGS. 12 and 13 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 12-12 and 13-1-3, respectively, of FIG. 11.

Referring now in more detail and by reference charac ters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention. A designates a coinholder comprising three peripherally registering square plates 1, 2, 3, adapted to be arranged in stacked relation as shown in FIG. 1, and being respectively provided in their four corners with aligned sets of apertures 4, 4', 4", for receiving two-part separable fastener-elements 5 each consisting of a short tubular internally threaded post 6 and a matching screw 7 which fits axially through the apertures 4, 4', 4", and are interengaged. The posts 6 and screws 7 are provided with identically shaped flat circular heads 8, 9, respectively, so that when the post and screw are threaded into each other and drawn up tightly the heads will engage the outwardly presented faces of the plates 1 and 3 and draw the three plates 1, 2, and 3, tightly into facewise abutting relationship. The upper and lower plates 1 and 3 serve as cover plates and are formed preferably of a tough transparent synthetic resin, such as methyl methacrylate commonly refer-red to as Lucite, being of any desired thickness. The central plate 2 is a spacer plate and is formed preferably of a non-transparent somewhat more brittle synthetic resin, such as a formaldehyde-urea resin or a polystyrene resin, being of somewhat greater thickness than the thickest possible coin which the coin holder A is intended to accept.

The central or spacer plate 2, however, is provided with at least one large aperture 10 for receiving a snug-fitting circular insert ring 11 which is centrally provided with -a concentric aperture 12 adapted to receive a coin of some particular denomination and being of substantially the same diametral size as such coin. On top face 13 the ring 1-1 is flat and on its opposite or bottom face 14 is frusto-conically dished so that, as its outer edge, the ring 11 has an axial thickness equal to the thickness of the spacer plate 2 and, around its inner edge, has a thickness substantially equal to the particular coin for which it is designed. In other words, the diameter of the aperture 10 is of some appropriate universal dimension and the insert ring is specific for :a particular coin C, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, for example, if the insert ring 11 is intended to accommodate American pennies of a certain particular issue, the diametral size of the aperture 12 will be substantially equal to the diametral size of such penny. The insert ring '11 may be of either transparent or opaque material and is preferably of the same material as the spacer plate 2.

Provided for seated disposition within the frusto-conical depression on the under face of the insert ring 11 is a circular sealing disk 15 which is of transparent syn thetic resin or pastic having a fiat under face 16 of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the insert ring 11 and a 'frusto-conical side face 17 which feathers out to a fairly sharp juncture-edge with the under face 16. Moreover, the side face 17 has a slightly sharper taper or axial angle than the frusto-conical depression 14 of the insert ring 11 so that initially it will fit therein as shown in FIG. 5. Finally, the upper face 18 of the sealing disk 15 is flat, circular, and concentric, being of substantially the same diametral size as the coin-receiving aperture 12 of the insert ring 11.

Thus, when a coin is placed in the coin-receiving aperture12 and the several parts of the coin-holder A assembled as shown in FIG. 5, the sealing disk 15 will, in effect, push all excess and unnecessary air from the coinholding pocket p formed within the coin-holder A. Such air as may be expelled cannot be trapped therein because of the initial clearance alforded by the difierence in the tapers. The sealing disk 15, however, is sufficiently thin and flexible so that as the posts 6 are drawn tightly together the sealing disk will flex slightly and become tightly and conformably seated within the frusto-conical depression in the underside of the insert ring 11 as shown in FIG. 3.

Since the coins in so-called proof-sets are highly polished and, further, since many coin collectors prefer all coins in a collection to be similarly polished, the exclusion of air prevents tarnishing. Moreover, the close tolerance fit of the coin pocket 17 prevents any frictional damage to the coin as the coin-holder A is handled. Finally, the coin is held closely between flat transparent surfaces so there can be no visual distortion which might detract from the coin as it is viewed from either side.

It is also possible to provide a modified form of coinholder A, as shown in FIG. 6, which is somewhat similar to the previously described coin-holder A, but comprises two marginally registering preferably square plates 19, 29, formed preferably of a transparent synthetic such as Lucite. The plate 19, which for convenience may be referred to as the top-plate, is centrally provided with a cylindrical recess 21 which extends upwardly therein from a flat under face 22 and terminates in a top-wall 23 having a flat interior face 24. Adapted for snug-fitting disposition within the recess 21 is an insert ring 25 having a concentric circular coin-receiving aperture 26 which is of substantially the same diameter as the coin C intended to be placed therein. The insert ring 25 may be of transparent or non-transparent material and is the same thickness as the coin C or possibly may be very slightly thinner. Finally, the side faces of the cylindrical recess 21 is provided with, preferably, two diametrally opposite axial kerfs or slots 27 which are of relatively small depth and, in fact, are so small in width and depth as to be practically unnoticeable.

The plate 20, which for convenience may be referred to as the bottom plate, is integrally provided with an upstanding cylindrical boss 28 which fits snugly into the recess 21 and has a flat top face 29 which fits up snugly against the coin C and insert ring 25, as best seen in FIG. 8. Formed in the upper face 36 of the bottom plate are two diametrally opposite kerfs or slots 31 which are adapted to register at their inner ends with the slots 27 when the plates I9, 20, are relatively rotated to the position shown in FIG. 9. In this position, also, the outer ends of the slots 31 will project somewhat beyond the proximate edges of the top-plate 19, so that as the boss 28 is forced into the recess 21 to enclose the coin C, all entrapped air will be readily forced out through the aligned slots 27, 31.

In use, the coin C can be placed in the pocket p formed by the aperture 26 of the insert ring and the two plates 19, 2t oriented as shown in FIG. 9, so that the slots 2-8, 31, are aligned as shown in FIG. 10. The plates 19, 2b, are then pushed tightly together, and rotated to bring them into marginal alignment, as shown in FIG. 11. In this latter position, all the air will have been forced out of the pocket p and the two plates 19, 20, will be held securely together as a result of the combined effects of friction fit and ambient air pressure or so-called suction as it is sometimes called. It will, of course, be understood that the coin-holder A is, in a manner of speaking, universal in the sense that its recess can be made larger than the largest possible coin which could be inserted therein. Then, by the use of various different insert rings 25, which are internally sized for receiving various different coins, the coin-holder A will serve to accommodate a very wide range of coin denominations.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the coin-holders may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin-holder comprising two plate-like members formed of transparent material and being shaped for overlying marginal registration, one of said members having a circular recess opening upon one face thereof, a ring adapted for snug-fitting disposition within the recess, said ring having a coin-receiving pocket and being shorter in axial length than the recess so as to leave the outer portion of the recess unoccupied, the other platelike member having a circular boss adapted to fit snugly Within the recess and occupying the space in the outer portion of the recess not occupied by the ring, each of said plate-lil e members having channels formed therein, said channels being arranged in pairs so that one channel of each pair opens into the recess at one end and at its other end communicates with the other channel of such pair when the two plate-like members are rotated with respect to each other so as to assume a predetermined position of relative orientation, the other channel of said pair in turn opening at its other end upon the external face of the coin-holder so that when the two plate-like members are rotated into such predetermined position air may flow freely outwardly from the recess through said channels as the two plate-like members are being pushed into overlying position, said pair of channels being so located that when the two plate-like members are turned axially with respect to each other and thereby brought into marginal registration the two channels will be shifted into relative non-communicating positions, thereby cutting off the passageway for air flow to and from said recess.

2. A coin-holder comprising two plate-like members formed of transparent material and being shaped for overlying marginal registration, one of said members having a circular recess opening upon one face thereof, a ring adapted for snug-fitting disposition within the recess, said ring having a coin-receiving pocket and being shorter in axial length than the recess so as to leave the outer portion of the recess unoccupied, the other plate-like member having a circular boss adapted to fit snugly within the recess and occupying the space in the outer portion of the recess not occupied by the ring, each of said platelike members having channels formed therein, at least one of the channels in said pair of channels being radial to the recess, said channels being arranged in pairs so that one channel of each pair opens into the recess at one and and at its other end communicates with the other channel of such pair when the two plate-like members are rotated with respect to each other so as to assume a predetermined position of relative orientation, the other channel of said pair in turn opening at its other end upon the external face of the coin-holder so that when the two plate-like members are rotated into such predetermined position air may flow freely outwardly from the recess through said channels as the two platelike members are being pushed into overlying position, said pair of channels being so located that when the two plate-like members are turned axially with respect to each other and thereby brought into marginal registration the two channels will be shifted into relative non-communicating positions, thereby cutting off the passageway for air flow to and from said recess.

3. A coin-holder comprising two plate-like members formed of transparent material and being shaped for overlying marginal-re istration, one of said members having a circular recess opening upon one face thereof, a ring adapted for snug-fitting disposition within the recess, said ring having a coin-receiving pocket and being shorter in axial length than the recess so as to leave the outer portion of the recess unoccupied, the other plate-like member having a circular boss adapted to fit snugly within the recess and occupying the space in the outer portion of the recess not occupied by the ring, each of said plate-like members having channels formed therein. said channels being arranged in pairs so that one channel of each pair opens into the recess at one end and at its other end communicates with the other channel of such pair when the two plate'like members are rotated with respect to each other so as to assume a predetermined position of relative orientation, the other channel of said pair in turn opening at its other end upon the external face of the coin-holder so that when the two plate-like members are rotated into such predetermined position air may flow freely outwardly from the recess through said channels as the two plate-like members are being pushed into overlying position, said pair of channels being so located that when the two plate-like members are turned axially with respect to each other and thereby brought into marginal registration the two channels will be shifted into relative non-communicating positions, thereby cutting off the passageway for air flow to and from said recess, at least one of the channels in said pair of channels being radial to the recess.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

Examiners. 

1. A COIN-HOLDER COMPRISING TWO PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS FORMED OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL AND BEING SHAPED FOR OVERLYING MARGINA REGISTRATION, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A CIRCULAR RECESS OPENING UPON ONE FACE THEREOF, A RING ADAPTED FOR SNUG-FITTING DISPOSITION WITHIN THE RECESS, SAID RING HAVING ACOIN-RECEIVING POCKET AND BEING SHORTER IN AXIAL LENGTH THAN THE RECESS SO AS TO LEAVE THE OUTER PORTION OF THE RECESS UNOCCUPIED, THE OTHER PLATELIKE MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR BOSS ADAPTED TO FIT SNUGLY WITHIN THE RECESS AND OCCUPYING THE SPACE IN THE OUTER PORTION OF THE RECESS NOT OCCUPIED BY THE RING, EACH OF SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS HAVNG DHANNELS FORMED THEREIN, SAID CHANNELS BEING ARRANGED IN PAIRS SO THAT ONE CHANNEL OF EACH PAIR OPENS INTO THE RECESS AT ONE END AND AT ITS OTHER END COMMUNICATES WITH THE OTHER CHANNEL OF SUCH PAIR WHEN THE TWO PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS ARE ROTATED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER SO AS TO ASSUME A PREDETERMINED POSITION OF RELATIVE ORIENTATION, THE OTHER CHANNEL OF SAID PAIR IN TURN OPENING AT ITS OTHER END UPON THE EXTERNAL FACE OF THE COIN-HOLDER SO THAT WHEN THE TWO PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS ARE ROTATED INTO SUCH PREDEETERMINED POSITIOIN AIR MAY FLOW FREELY OUTWARDLY FROM THE RECESS THROUGH SAID CHANNELS AS THE TWO PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS ARE BEING PUSHED INTO OVERLYING POSITIOIN, SAID PAIR OF CHANNELS BEING SO LOCATED THAT WHEN THE TWO PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS ARE TURNED AXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND THEREBY BROUGHT INTO MARGINAL REGISTRATION THE TWO CHANNELS WILL BE SHIFTED INTO RELATIVE NON-COMMUNCATING POSITIONS, THEREBY CUTTING OFF THE PASSAGEWAY FOR AIR FLOW TO AND FROM SAID RECESS. 